THE husband and wife co-founders of cosmetics giant Lush are among Dorset and New Forest personalities recognised in the New Year's Honours list.

Mark and Mo Constantine, who in 1994 opened their first store in Poole, both receive OBEs.

Mark said: "I am honoured and surprised to be honest. I'm normally getting told off.

"One journalist did say to me ages ago, when I funded a particular group, 'that's your knighthood gone'.

"I assumed he meant all honours under that as well, so I was a bit shocked. But it is a lovely 'well done' isn't it?"

Lush, the multi-million pound hand-made cosmetics manufacturer, has more than 600 shops in 40 countries.

Mo said: "For us this award represents recognition for all those people who have worked so hard and shown such dedication and commitment to the company over the years."

The Constantines are known for supporting environmental causes and opposing animal testing.

Also receiving the OBE is Shaftesbury's Nichola Tinkler, former head of business development at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, for public service.

MBEs go to Bournemouth's Valerie Teresa Everitt, for services to the Women's Royal Voluntary Service, and Lynne Cooper, for services to the voluntary sector.

Lynne, a police sergeant, said: "I didn't see it coming. I'm flattered really, I don't know who put me up for it, but I would like to find them and thank them - I was amazed and flattered."

Lynne has a prolific record of voluntary work with St John Ambulance, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and the Prince's Trust.

She has embarked on countless fundraising expeditions in the UK and around the world, particularly for the Ladybird Appeal, and been given many awards for her work. In 2008, her father John was given an MBE for services to St John Ambulance.

Also winning MBEs in Dorset are Lesley Benham, from Dorchester, Angela Joy Dupont, Jean Margot Edwards, of Beaminster and Martyn Hastings, from Weymouth.

In the New Forest, Gillian Habbin, 82, from Ringwood, receives the MBE for services to the community. She is secretary of Greyfriars Community Centre, which is run by Ringwood and District Community Association.

Gillian said: "When I found out about the MBE I nearly passed out."

Brockenhurst College principal Di Roberts has been handed a CBE for services to further education. Di joined the college five years ago and in her first year saw teenagers achieve a record A-level pass rate of 98 per cent.

• Chart star and charity campaigner Annie Lennox was among the well-known people to be recognised in the New Year Honours List.

The Eurythmics singer and solo star said she was "genuinely honoured" to receive an OBE, joking that she was getting her hat ready for a visit to Buckingham Palace.

Actor David Suchet - who has landed a CBE - has played characters from Cardinal Wolsey to disgraced media mogul Robert Maxwell, but will forever be remembered for his portrayal of moustachioed Belgian sleuth, Poirot.

Long-serving Conservative MP Peter Bottomley has been knighted after 35 years in the Commons, while Anne Begg, Labour MP for Aberdeen South since 1997, is made a dame for services to disabled people and to putting equal opportunities on the agenda in parliament.

She was the first full-time wheelchair user to become an MP.

Writer Lady Antonia Fraser has also been made a dame, for services to literature.

Author William Shawcross, who wrote the official biography of the Queen Mother, has been a made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order by the Queen, while Katharine Hamnett, known for her protest t-shirts, was awarded a CBE for services to the fashion industry.

Vernon Ellis, the chairman of the English National Opera who steered the organisation through turbulent times, has been awarded a knighthood.

Richard Thompson, widely regarded as one of the world's finest guitarists who spearheaded folk-rock, has been awarded an OBE.

After finding fame in the late '60s and early '70s with Fairport Convention, he later became renowned for his eclectic live show 1,000 Years of Popular Music.

Actress Harriet Walter, who has been made a dame for services to drama, has had a distinguished career on stage and screen.

Comedy writer John Lloyd receives a CBE.